Car-mover.



No. 863,112. I PATENTED AUG. 13,1907.

I e. & A. J. SPIRE & 0. B. EMERSON.

GAR MOVER.

APYIIOATION FILED DEG. 12,1906.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907. G. & A. J. SPIRE & 0. B. EMERSON.

GAR MOVER. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 12,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

cam E, which consists of UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. GEORGE SPIRE, ALFRED JOHN SPIRE, AVND ONO BURR MIN ESOTA.

EMERSON, OF WATERVILLE,

% GAR-MOVER. I

N 0. 863,112. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 12, 1906. Serial No. 347,520-

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE SPIKE, ALFRED JOHN SPIRE, and ONO BURR EMERSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Waterville, in the county of Lesueur and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oar-Movers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to car movers, more particularly to the pine -bar type, and has as its object the provision of a device of that character wherein the gripping of the car wheel flange is automatically done in the course of operating the device.

It further embraces a tool adapted to be operated by a single person, and is designed to readily adapt itself to any size car wheel and axle.

The construction of the device and method of operating the same are more specifically pointed out in the following specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure lis a view showing our device in applied position; Fig. 2 is aplan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is aview in perspective of the car mover, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the gripping piece. Fig. 5 is a modified form of gripping piece showing corrugated sleeve having a thickened wearing portion. Fig. 6 is a view of a further modification. Fig. 7 shows the car mover with auxiliary attachments. Fig. 8 is a detailed enlargement of the bar-joint. Fig. 9 is the gripping piece with spring attachment.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

The operating lever comprises the metal bar A and the wooden handle B which are approximately of the same length, and are fastened together by any suitable means. The active end of the metal bar A is provided with the axle holding head 0 which consists of an angular piece made integral with the bar A. The parts constituting the angular holding head are arranged substantially at right angles to each other and are of about the same diameter as the bar A. By this arrangement of the axle holding piece we provide a head which will readily adapt itself to any size car axle, and which further provides two distinct gripping faces a and b.

On the body of the bar A and at a point from the head 0 approximately one-half 1-) the diameter of the usual car wheel, is the wheel gripping device consisting essentially of a flange gripping member, a pinching device, and a collar. The collar D is of any preferred kind and is fitted with a screw bolt 0 for locking it in position and against movement on the bar A. Against the upper end of the collar D, that is the end next the wooden handle B, is the pinching means or a cast iron core (Z having a lateral opening 6, by means of which it is sleeved onto the bar A and has turning movement thereon. The perimeter of the core d is partly provided with a wearing surface or sleeve I made preferably of steel, and has its bearing face provided with lateral corrugations g. The core d is further provided with an integral downwardly projecting shoulder or stop it which projccts from between the ends of the corrugated sleeve I and is directly opposed to said sleeve. The stop h rests against the flange of the wheel and serves to prevent the cam E from falling away from its normal position when the device is in use. The flange gripping member F is sleeved on the bar A for which purpose it has the lateral opening 1:, and is adapted to be locked to the bar A, but allowing freedom of movement for the cam E. Screw bolts j and I: are the means for fastening the member F to the bar A. To the outer side and at one end of the member F and at right angles to the sides comprising the axle holding head 0, is a fln ger or cam abutment G formed integrally with the member F. The finger G projects outwardly and partly around the corrugated face I of the cam E and has for its function that of spanning the flange of the car wheel; the end Z of its inner face m being roughened and adapted to bind against the outer side of the car wheel flange, and holding thereto while the cam E jams against the opposite side of the flange.

In its application our car mover operates as follows. The head 0 is fitted over the rear axle of the car and against the left wheel thereof, the finger G of the cam gripping member F spanning the wheel flange, and the cam I resting lightly against the inner side of the flange. The lever is presumably horizontal. Now with giving a lifting movement to the lever, whose pivot is the car axle, the corrugated face 1 of the cam E jams against its side of the flange of the car wheel which in turn causes the surface Z to jam against the other side of the flange. The flange being now pinched all further movement exerted upon the lever results in the turning of the wheel and consequently in movement of the car.

Since our device is adapted to be fitted against the rear left wheel of a car it follows that it can be used at either end of any car.

The gripping piece or cam disclosed in Fig. 5 has its corrugated sleeve y somewhat crescent shaped in cross-section, thus giving greater strength and wearing depth where it engages with. the carwheel. At its end adjacent the member F the cam has an enlarged or bulged portion is adapted to closely conform to the con tour of the wheel flange, thereby providing a better gripping action.

The further modification shown in Fig. 6 comprises a gripping piece of two wedged shaped members L and M connected by links n, one on either side. The member L has a thickened portion 0 through which an opening 1) is provided by means of which it is fitted to the operating lever. The links a have holes to receive the operating lever which holds the parts L and M in operative position. When used with this device the lowering of the lever permits the pieces L and M to disengage and the wheel gripping element to be moved circumierentially oi the wheel rim to take a fresh hold, and upon the reverse movement of the lever the wedge L jams against the member M which in turn engages with its corrugated iace the wheel flange.

It sometimes occurs that in moving heavy loads, as, for instance, a car on a grade, a purchase is desired to supply which the operating lever is provided with a support or fulcrum N, and a hinge joint 0 at a point just above the cam. The support N is detachably secured to the bar A by the engagement of its hinged arms with openings in the lever and has at its lower end a wheel 1' adapted to run on the car tracks. The hinge joining the two parts of the bar A is made of the two pieces q and 8, each suitably secured within its part of the lever. Adjacent the hinge pintle L is provided a locking bolt a, which, when inserted, locks the hinge members together and makes the operating lever perfectly rigid and in condition for its customary use. When used with its auxiliary attachments the car mover is applied in the usual manner, the support holding the same irom the track and acting as a fulcrum for the lever which is moved slightly up and down, thus exerting a continuous gripping on the wheel flange and consequent movement of the car.

The spring attachment 10 shown in Fig. 7, and in detail in Fig. 8, is for the purpose of positively returning the pinching piece to its normal position thus supplementing the action of gravity and insuring the quick and complete return of the gripping element. The end ol' the cam 1 adjacent the piece F is cut away as at o to receive the coiled spring 10, one end of which is fastened thereto, and its other end secured against movement to the member F at 0;, so as to exert a torsional action on the rotary gripping member.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A car mover comprising a lever, an axle gripping head, a flange engaging member, an opposed pinching memher, and a collar for holding said pinching member in operative position.

2. A car mover consisting of a lever having an axle gripping head, at its end, and a flange gripping member and a pinching member sleeved on said lever in opposed operative relation.

3. A car mover consisting of a lever having an axle gripping head provided with a plurality of gripping faces to accommodate axles of various sizes, a flange gripping member and a pinching member sleeved on said lever in opposed operative relation. and a collar for holding said pinching member in operative position.

4. A car mover consisting of a lever, made up of a bar and a handle, an angular gripping head at one end of said bar to accommodate axles of different sizes, a flange gripping member, an opposed pinching member sleeved on said lever and a collar for holding said pinching member in operative position.

5. A car mover comprising a lever having an angulargripping head, a cam and a flange gripping member sleeved on said lever, said flange gripping member provided with a cam abutment, and a collar on said lever holding said cam in position.

G. A car mover comprising a lever provided with an axle gripping head, a pinching member concentrically fitted to said lever, and provided with a shoulder, a flange gripping member on said lever and provided with a cam abutment, and a collar for holding said cam in operative position.

- 7. A device of the class described, comprising a lever, an axle-engaging head at one end thereof, a flange-engaging abutment on said lever, a rotatable flange-gripping member mounted on said lever in opposed relation to said abutment, and means for holding said gripping member in operative position.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a lever, an axle'engaging head at one end thereof, a flange-engaging abutment on said lever, a rotatable flange gripping member sleeved on said lever in opposed relation to said abutment, and means for holding said gripping member in operative position.

9. A device of the class described, comprising a lever, an axle-engaging head at one end thereof, a flange-engaging abutment onv said lever, a rotatable flange-gripping cam mounted on said lever in opposed relation to said abutment, and means for holding said gripping member in operative position.

10. A device of the class described, comprising a lever, an axle-engaging head at one end thereof, a flange-engaging abutment on said lever, a rotatable flange-gripping member mounted on said lever in opposed relation to said abutment, a limiting stop carried by said member, and means for bolding said gripping member in operative position.

11. A car mover comprising a lever having an axle gripping head, a movable flange engaging member having a thickened wearing portion, a flange abutment opposed to said flange engaging member, and means for holding said flange engaging member in operative position.

1 A car mover comprising a lever having an axle gripping head, a movable flange engaging member having its wearing portion thickened, a flange abutment opposed to said flange engaging member, and means for positively returning the flange engaging member to operative position.

13. A car mover comprising a lever having an axle gripping head, a movable flange engaging member having a sleeve of unequal thickness and of the contour of the part of the wheel to be gripped a flange abutment, and means for positively returning the flange engaging member to operative position.

Li. A car mover having in combination, a jointed operating lever, a support therefor, a movable flange engaging member and a flange abutment on said lever, and means for positively returning the flange engaging member to operative position.

15. A car mover having in combination, a jointed operating lever, a support therefor, a movable flange engaging member of the contour of the part of the wheel to be gripped, a flange abutment opposed to said flange engaging member, and means for positively returning said flange engaging member to operative position.

16. A car mover having in combination, a jointed operating lever, a support therefor, a movable flange engaging member having a wearing sleeve of unequal thickness, said wearing sleeve having its surface of the contour of part of the wheel to be gripped, a flange abutment opposed to said flange engaging member, means for positively returning said flange engaging means for limiting said movement.

17. A car mover comprising a jointed lever having a wheel gripping means on one limb, said gripping means comprising a flange engaging member and an opposed pinching member, and a supporting fulcrum detachably secured to the other member.

18. A car mover comprising a jointed lever, a wheelgr'lpping member on one limb, a detachable supporting fulcrum on the other limb, and means for locking the members of the jointed lever together.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence oi two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE SPIRE. ALFRED JOHN SPIRE.

ONO BURR EMERSON.

In presence of .TAS. M. KNUDsoN, l G. Hrnzn.

member to operative position, and. 

